Container



2 Sheets- Sheet 1 H. c. BOARLDMAN conmnma Filed May a, 1937 June 7, 1938.

Ra ga)? June 7, 1938.

H. c. BOARDMAN Y R 2,119,518

CONTAINER Filed May 6, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 7, 1938 PATENT" OFFICE 2,119,51 CONTAINER- Harry 0. Boardman, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Chicago Bridge & Iron Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois 1 Application Mayo, 1937, Serial No. 141,167

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in containers and more especially to a closed container of the breather type.

One of the features of my invention is the designing of such a container that is closed so that it will holds internal pressure and one that is adapted to change its shape, and "consequently its capacity with changes in such pressure.

One form of my improved container may be considered as an improvement on the container. shown in my earlier Patent 1,809,013 issued June 9th, 1931. The improvement consists primarily in another way of making the corner construction. A modified form of the invention, however, in which the container is made circular, constitutes an entirely new invention.

In general, my invention contemplates the con- I struction'of the corners of the square tank, and

the entire periphery of the circular tank, of impervious flexible fabric sheeting suitably stiffened by flexible bars or ribs acting as retainers to hol the material in position. I

The use of my invention will greatly facilitate the construction and operation of both square and circular containers of the type mentioned.

Other features and advantages will appear more fully as I proceed with my specification.

In those forms of device embodying the features of my invention shown in the accompanying drawirigsz-Fig. l'is a top plan view partly in section; Fig. 2 is a view taken as indicated by the line 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a modified form partly in section; and Fig. 4 is a view taken as indicated by the line 4 of Fig. 3.

As shown in the drawings, the square container of Figs. 1 and 2 with the rounded corners resembles in general the construction and operation of the container shown in my prior Patent 1 1,809,013 except for the corner construction which will be described more in detail hereinafter.

The container may be made principally of sheet metal comprising plates of suitable size and shape joined in-any proper manner, as, for example, by welding or riveting.

The bottom of the container is flat, rectangular (here shown as square) sheet metal, 'as indicated by H which may rest upon any suitable support as the ground II.

The top, as here shown, is a square piece of sheet metal as indicated by It. I5 indicates suitable framing or supports inside of the container which may be provided for the top tov rest on when in its lowermost position.

At the four sides the edges of the top sheet I are joined to the bottom sheet H by the side' sheets l3. These side sheets are cut oif square at the ends, leaving'thelcorners open except as the same are closed by means hereinafter to be described.

The corners are closed by pieces of flexible 5 fabric i6 impervious to gas. Fabric of this sort is well known in the art and need not. be described herein in detail. The fabric is held in position by radially extending flexible bowed ribs I! with their upper ends attached to one corner 10 of the top member and their lower ends attached to the adjacent corner of the bottom member.- These ribs, for example, may be of flexible metal, wood or other suitable material. The flexible fabric is attached to the ribs in any suitable manner as by gluing, riveting, or the like.

In the operation of the device under increased pressure the top member It can rise as shown by the broken line in Fig. 2. This increases the capacity. In the lowermost position the top member I4 rests on the framing 15 as shown by the solid lines in Fig. 2,

The device of Figs. 3 and 4 is similar to that just described except that it is made circular and the bottom is formed by the circular member i I l and the top by the circular top member ill. I I5 indicates the framing upon which the top member rests when'in its lowermost position. Since the device is circular it has no straight sides but instead hasa continuous curved or circular periphcry. The construction of this resembles the corner construction of the other form which corner construction it will be noted is also curved or circular. That is, each corner of the other form embraces an arc of substantially 90. The periphery of the square-form of Figs. 1 and 2 has four straight portions and four portions (the corners) which are curved or circular. The circular form of Figs. 3 and 4 has its entire periph- 40 ery circular.

In the form of Figs. 3 and 4 therefore, the entire periphery of the container is closed by the fabric H6 which is held in position by the ribs I I1 resembling in construction and operation the fabric l6 and ribs I! at the comers of the square container.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention as disclosed in the appended claims, in which it is my inten'-.

tion to claim all novelty inherent in my invention as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior and their lower ends. attached to the bottom member. v

2. A closed sheet metal container comprising: a rectahflular top member; a rectangular bottom member; flexible plates joining the edges of said r members to close the four sides 'oftbe periphery of the container; and flexible fabric sheets closing the corners, said sheets held in position by radially extending, flexible bowed 'ribs with their upper ends attached .to the corners of the top member and their lower ends attached to the corners of the bottom member.

3. a closed sheet metal container including: a?

circular top member; a circular bottom member; and flexible fabric closing the periphery of said container, said fabric held in position by radially extending, flexible bowed ribs with their upper ends attached to the top, member and their lower ends attached to the bottom member.

BERRY C. 

